Church Service At New Barnet.

very large sums for the relief of distressed Brethren , and built the Boys and Girls Masonic Schools at Battersea Rise and Tottenham . In the latter part of the 18 th century the ancient York Lodge of practical Masons put in a rival claim to be Grand

Lodge , or Supreme Authority . The schismatics were known by the red colour of the Royal Arch degree , the orthodox by the blue of St . John of Jerusalem . In 1813 a Union was at last Drought about by the Queen's father , the Duke of Kent ,

by her uncle the Duke of Sussex , and by the Duke of Athole , between the rival Grand Lodges of London and York , and it was henceforth known as the United Grand Lodge of England .

Such is a brief sketch of the histoiy of Masonry as known to the world , and it is a history of which we may well be proud . Brethren , it is well known that our Fraternity is famous for the celebration of the Brotherhood of man , and for the

cultivation of Universal Goodwill . Whatever may be the case in foreign countries , in our own Freemasonry has always gone hand in hand with religion . It has emphasised the great Christian virtue of Brotherly kindness , uniting men of

different ranks and often opposite views in mutual esteem and respect . It is impossible in a mixed audience to particularise its moral aims ; it is sufficient to say that none who join it can fail to-be impressed for good .

Brethren , I ask you to cultivate in all the relations of life , whether in Masonry or without , that spirit of Brotherhood . Too many are the divisions which separate us in many ways in the complex civilisation in which we live .

The temper which you learn in our Craft you will do well to extend to all the children of the Divine Father of mankind . The proud look , the cold hand , the unfeeling heart , the angry tongue , the quarrelsome disposition are altogether unfitting to' those who have learnt the lessons of our

Association . Too little is thought in these our times of the fear of God , much of our life seems spent without any reference to Him .

The recollection of His Presence alone can curb our wayward wills , and nerve us to high resolves and wholesome activities . It is one of the glories of English Freemasonry that in all our ways we acknowledge God .

And there is another thought I should wish to leave with you . In these days of universal hurry we do not stop enough to consider whether our words are wise and our actions well considered . Dash and vigour , and the qualities that excite admiration and amusement are the most popular ,

not the quiet ways of calm deliberation and serious thought . If any of us can by word or example increase the respect for wisdom and understanding , and make men desire those great gifts for themselves , we shall be conferring a benefit on the

general character of society . Happy is the man that findeth wisdom , and he that getteth understanding . For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver , and the gain thereof than fine gold .

Fidelity is another principle which cannot be too highly prized . We are living in an age of restlessness , unsettlement and change . Principles are easily abandoned , and friends shaken off . The old virtue of faithfulness to our own

convictions , and loyalty to our friends is greatly to be desired and honoured . The world is too much given to gossip , and few indeed are able to hold their tongues even about secret things if they can raise a laugh . A tale bearer revealeth secrets , but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter . A

faithful man shall abound with blessings ; but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent . The Lord preserveth the faithful . The very fact that the secrets of Masonry are so well kept is a perpetual witness to us of this high quality . Seriousness and dignity again greatly add at fitting

times and on proper occasions to the impressiveness of life . Nothing is more tedious than the perpetual jester . Every household should have its own little forms of courtesy and ceremony to smooth roughness and difficulties , and to banish insolence , rudeness , contempt , and excessive familiarity .

Lastly , our Craft is by all the world accepted as an example of wise and well-thought almsgiving .

Will you not as Masons show your faith by your works ? Will you not , as members of that great and world-wide confraternity let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works , and glorify your Father which is in

Heaven ? "He shall establish : " " In it is strength : " those two ancient mystic sentences of the mighty Craftsman Hiram have a message for us which crosses the long sequence of the centuries , if all our works are begun , continued , and ended in the fear of God , He will indeed establish and secure them ,

Church Service At New Barnet.

and be their strength and their sure protection . " Establish thou the work of our hands upon us ; yea , the work of our hands establish Thou it . " "Be Thou our strength every morning : our salvation also in the time of trouble ! " There had been some criticism in Grand Lodge on holding such services , as some thought they ought not to go

out of their own circle . He had sent in a strong defence in favour of public services , because while there was not much they could tell the public about Freemasonry , they could show by common worship their interest in religion and works of charity . Church building was one of those works , and when he told them that the population of the country

increased every year by 350 , 000 , a good deal of which came to the suburbs , they could see the need of building churches . That beautiful Gothic church , designed by the first architect of the day , a man who had charge of Westminster Abbey , had had already spent on it £ 7 , , and would require £ 7 ,

more to finish it . At present they needed a temporary annexe to serve as chancel and vestry , which would cost £ 600 ; and if the Freemasons of the district felt interest in the place and raised £ 50 as was proposed , it would provide an oak altar , and perhaps prie dieu desks and sanctuary chairs could be added .

The offertory—which was taken by Bros . Letts , E . Monson , Lewis , Salisbury , T . W . Scales , S . Turnbull , F . G . Mason , E . C . Mulvey , and F . C . Collingvvood—realised £ 22 10 s , and it is hoped to leave this amount in the hands of the Churchwardens free of all charges , a fund raised by the Brethren to cover the expenses of postage , printing , & c ,

having reached £ 6 previous to the Service , with other promises which it is expected will cover the necessary outlay . In addition to thi § the Brethren of the district have set themselves the task of raising a fund which they hope will reach £ 50 at least , so as to provide the new altar for the

Church , as a special Masonic gift , and towards this £ 13 13 s was promised previous to Sunday afternoon , so that the result of the Masonic Service at its termination was upwards of forty guineas , with many promises of further amounts yet to come—no mean contribution , as we said at the outset .

The following is a list of those who responded to the invitation of the Committee to support the Church Service : T . H . Martin P . P . G . S . B . Herts , W . Lewis P . P . G . A . D . C . Herts , F . C . Collingwood P . P . G . S . B . Herts , F . Paterson P . P . G . O . Herts , F . G . Mason P . P . G . W . Herts , C . W . P . Dyke P . P . G . J . D . Dorset , J . F . Collinson P . P . G . S . of Works , Joseph Copestick P . P . J . G . W . Herts , A . J . Norrington P . P . G . P . Somerset , I . N . Edwards

P . P . G . S . W . Herts , P . Monson P . P . G . S . of Works Middlesex , C . W . Allen P . P . G . A . D . C . Herts , G . R . Newman W . M . 1673 , R . Cranston W . M . 1385 , W . A . Board W . M . 1996 , J . A . Witthaus W . M . 185 , I . Marchand P . M . 1572 , J . R . Hill P . M . 1572 , W . Curry P . M . and Treasurer 2331 , John Falconer P . M . 2509 , A . Lefebor P . M . 1950 , W . H . Wollsman P . M . 1589 , J . McLeod Rainsford P . M . 1385 , H . Tippet P . M ., Rev . A . Dawson Clarke P . M . and Chaplain 1718 ,

F . S . Plowright P . M . 193 , F . W . Moss P . M . 228 , John Cooper P . M . 3 , W . J . Collens P . M 766 , R .. J . Voisey P . M . 1329 , C . Dunlop P . M ., F . A . Moss 228 H . W . Bleaney 1549 , F . H . Ing 1549 , G . N . Croger 1549 , F . Pruden 1549 , H . Rogers , A . Shilling 213 , B . Jefferson 1572 , W . H . Cross 2509 , R . Davidson 289 ( S . C . ) , W . W . Morgan 177 , A . W . Letts 2509 , J . Harris Browne , W . Cutbusb . W . H . Cannon 2509 , E . T . Jenkins 611 ( S . C . ) , J . Gibson , Chaa . Ellis 1385 , J .

H . Craig 188 , W . Wood 2509 , S . Turnbull 2509 , C . F . R . Payne 4 , A . O . Miller 228 , W . W . Gabell 2509 , G . W . Salisbury 2432 , E . L . Walsh 2509 , John Probert , Donald King , L . A . Lockwood 2509 , J . W . Saunders 102 , 0 . A . Cooke 1385 , Herbert Catford 127 , A . W . Toms 157 , G . W . Rowe 587 , G . E . L . Buchner 2353 , T . W . Scales 186 , J . Jay 1507 , Hugo Hempel 2353 , J . A . Lowa 3 , J . Bartlett 1637 , F . M . Gye 1949 , C . Jarratt , Herbert Crimp 1694 , R . J . Goddard 2054 , J . Railton ( S . C . ) , J . Beale , E . Jones , Smith , and many others .

The North London Masonic Benevolent Ball was held last week , and was a great success , the splendid accommodation of Freemasons' Tavern being taxed to its fullest capacity . Brother Herbert Campbell presided in the principal supper room , and gave the usual toasts in his own

genial way , amongst the respondents being that droll , Daniel Leno , Esq ., and the talented Grand pantomime merchant , Bro . Harry Randall . Dancing was kept up to a late hour to the music of Bro . Hiram Henton ' s band . It is expected

from the remarks of Hon . Secretary Edwards that a substantial sum will be handed over to the Masonic Charities , says our old friend the " Merrie Villager , " in the " Islington Gazette . "

The annual Masonic ball of the Arkwright Lodge , No . 1495 , took place at the New Bath Hotel , Matlock Bath , on the 9 th inst , and was in every way a success . The company numbered upwards of sixty .

A hand-painted dinner service has been presented by the members of the Victoria Diamond Jubilee Lodge , No . 2675 , to the Rev . C . C . Hoyle S . D . of the Lodge , on the occasion of his marriage .